Merchandise dispensing device



June 20, 1939. B. T. HlBsHMAN MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1938 I N VE N TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,163,280 MERCHANDISE. msPENsING DEVICE` Benjamin T. Hibshman, North4 Bergen, N. J.

Application August 16, 1938, Serial No. 225,148

6 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and has for one of its objects the provision of a dispensing device adapted to contain a stack of articles or packages of merchandise which may be readily removed one at-a time by the customer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vending or dispensing device of this nature having a suitable signalling mechanism operable by the impact of the downcoming package directly above the one removed by the purchaser to apprise the merchant or clerk of such removal.

A further object of the invention is the'provision of a device of this nature having in addition to the signalling mechanism, means to make the said device foolproof, thus preventing the pilfering of merchandise therefrom.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secure.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein; fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then iinally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made'the'basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

'I'he inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a front view of my improved vending or dispensing device;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking from the rear thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional' view taken on line 4-4 Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail I0 indicates the upper casing or body portion of the device, which in the present instance is shown as rectangular in cross section and comprises a rear wall II, side walls I2, and a front wall I3, which define a rectangular merchandise compartment I4. The said front wall and side walls may be in the form of mirrors, or may have suitable advertising matter thereon, or may be a combination of both, or plain as shown.

The upper body portion I0 is supported on a base or lower pyramidical casing I5 having inclined side walls I6 connected at the top by a wall II and at the front by a wall I8 whose sides are tapered upwardly. The side walls I6 may each be provided with a pair of fins or ribs I9 which fit into grooved bead-like formations 20 on the lower portions or extensions 2I of the side walls I2. The manner of supporting the upper body portion on the lower casing just described may be reversed and the ribs may be on the extensions 2l and the grooves on the side walls I6. 'Ihe front wall I3 of the upper casing is somewhat shorter than the side walls and forms a mouth opening 22 through which the packages of merchandise 23 may be removed.

The said packages or merchandise units are stacked vertically in the compartment I4, the lowermost of said packages resting on the hammer operating plunger 25 of a bell or chime 26 enclosed in the lower casing I5. If desirable a weight 21 may overlie the topmost package of merchandise. Instead of a bell 26, any suitable mechanical or electrical signalling device may be employed to indicate or announce the removal of an article of merchandise from the stack.

It will readily be seen that when the lowermost package 23 is removed by a purchaser, the plunger 25 will momentarily be released and move upwardly, but will be immediately struck by the downcoming package directly above causing the hammer 28 to strike the bell 26.

In order to avoid tampering with the device, and prevent the pilfering or removal of merchandise therefrom without operating the signal, I have provided a shelf 29 which prevents the tilting of the lowermost package 23 about the edge 30 and slowly sliding same out of the compartment I4, to prevent the next upper package 23 from striking the plunger 25 with sufficient force to sound or operate the signal. In other words, with the shelf 29, the lowermost package 23 must be removed horizontally until it is 'entirely outside of the casing I6 thus insuring the rapid dropping of the remaining stack of packages and the operation of the bell 26 or other signalling device. I-Ioles or openings 3l at the bottom of the rear wall ll permit the sound of the bell to reach the exterior of the device.

'I'he casing ID may be refilled from the top or may be removed from the lower casing and be filled from the bottom, or the casing l0 may be constructed as shown in Fig. 5 wherein the rear wall lla is slidably mounted in slide ways 32 in the side walls l2a, and removed so that the upper casing may be relled from the rear.

If desirable, a suitable cover (not shown) may be provided to cover the top of the casing l0.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient vending device which is far superior to and cheaper to construct than the automatic or semi-automatic,A

coin vending machine in that there are no great number of small parts. It is also not easily tampered with and being under the supervision changes in the merchandise sold this equipment is superior to coin operated devices in that it allows the merchandise to be asV competitive as that sold directly over the counter. Inasmuch'as the merchant or sales person is always on hand during business hours the sales expense in doing business by this machine is not increased as it will take very little time and effort to watch this equipment, make change or take the purchase money.

It will also be seen that upon the'removal of the last article of merchandise, the weight 21 will operate the signalling device to apprise the merchant of such removal. Thesaid weight 21 also acts at all times tour'ge the merchandise downwardly, thus linsuring proper operation of the signalling device.4 Y. Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isf l. A dispensing device of the nature described comprising a vertically disposed casing for the reception of a stack of articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a mouth opening at the bottom'of the casing through which the lowermost article in the stack is adapted to be withdrawn, the re-y maining articles in the stack adapted to drop by gravity when the said lowermost article is withdrawn, and a signalling device at the bottom of the casing normally in contact with the said lowermost article in the stack, the said signalling device being operated by the next higher article when itdrops upon the withdrawal of the said lowermost article. Y 2. A dispensing device of the nature described comprising a vertically disposed' casing for the reception of a stack of articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a mouth opening at the bottom of the casing through which the lowermost article in the stack is adapted to be withdrawn, the remaining articles in the stack adapted to drop by gravity when the said lowermost Varticle is withdrawn, a signalling device at the bottom of the casing normally in contact with the said lower--V most article in thestack, the said signalling` device being operated by the next higher article when it drops upon the withdrawal of thesaid lowermost article, and a shelf secured to and extending horizontally from the casing at the top of the mouth opening to prevent the tilting of the article being removed until it is fully withdrawn from the casing.

3. A dispensing device of the nature described comprising a vertically disposed casing for the reception of a stack of articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a lower casing upon which the vertically disposed casing is supported, a mouth opening in the vertical casing directly above the top of the lower casing, a signalling device in the said lower casing, and a signal operating plunger extending from the said lower casing into the upper casing, the plunger being normally in contact with the lowermost article in the stack, which article when withdrawn will permit the remaining articles to drop by gravity to actuate the plunger by the next higher article in the stack to operate Vthe signalling device.

Y 4. A dispensing device of the nature described comprising a vertically disposed casing for the reception of a stack of articles of merchandise to bedispensed, a lower casing upon which the vertically disposed casing is supported, a mouth opening in the Vvertical'casing directly above the top of the lower casing, a signalling device in the said lower casing, va signal operating plunger extending-from the said lower casing into the upper casing. the plunger being normally in contact with thelowermost rarticle in the stack, which article when withdrawnwill permit the remaining articles to drop by gravity to actuate the plunger by then'ext higher article in the stack to operate the signalling 'devieefand a shelf secured toA and extendinghorizontally from the casing at the top of the mouth opening to prevent the tilting of the article being' 'removed'until it is fully withdrawn from the'ca'sing. y v

5. In a'dispensing device having an upper casing in which articles to be dispensed move downwardly/towards dispensing position and removable therefrom one by. one, the removal of the lowermost article permitting the remaining articles to dropby'gravity, a mouth opening at the said dispensing-positionthrough which the articles are removed, a lower casing in vertical alinement with theiipper casing, an audible signalling device in-the' said lower casing, and a plunger on the lsignalling device extending into the Vupper casing` andin contact with the lowermost article, the' said'fsign'alling device being operated by the next' higherarticle when vthe lowermost article is removed and theA remaining articles drop.

n 6. In a dispensingdevice'having an upper casing in `which articles to be dispensed move downwardly towards dispensing position and removable therefrom one by one, the removal of `the lowermost' article permitting therem'aining articles to drop by gravity, aimouth ,opening at the said dispensing position through which the articles are removed, a lower casing in vertical alinement with the upper casing, an'audible signalling device in the said lower casing, a `plunger on the signalling device extendinginto the upper casing and in contact with the `lowermost article, the said signalling device being operatedV by the next higher article when thelowermost article is removedi and the remaining articles drop, and a shelf secured to and extending horizontally from the upper casing at the top of the mouth opening to prevent the tilting of the article being removed until itis fully withdrawn `from the casing.

BENJAMN 'i'. HIBSHMAN. 

